Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Health his role and that of the Health Service Executive in relation to the confidential inquiry into maternal and child health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29037/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The title of the confidential enquiry into maternal and child health (CMACH) Ireland has changed to Maternal Death Enquiry (MDE) Ireland from April 2011. MDE Ireland aims to promote safer pregnancy by conducting confidential reviews into maternal deaths, identifying learning points, and using its findings to formulate and disseminate recommendations. The MDE is a 'stand alone' office working in partnership with the Maternal Enquiry UK. It is funded and endorsed by the HSE. I acknowledge the important role that MDE provides in improving provision of care for mothers and babies.

The Maternal Death Enquiry (MDE) was initiated in England and Wales in 1952 and became UK - wide in the 1980's. Ireland became a participant in 2009. The aim of the Enquiry is to investigate why some women die during or shortly after pregnancy, and to learn how such tragedies can be avoided in the future. The findings from previous maternal death enquiries in the UK have been published in a triennial report titled Saving Mothers' Lives. Irish data will be included in the next triennial report. The reports contain analyses and trends of maternal deaths and importantly, recommendations for improving clinical practice and for national policy on delivery of maternity services. The overwhelming strength of successive Enquiry Reports has been the impact their findings have had on improving standards of care and clinical governance.

MDE Ireland's enquiry approach is based on a two-stage process of regional data collection and assessment of the case followed by central assessment to enable aggregation into a fully anonymised overall report. Until recently, the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries had the responsibility for providing the Maternal Death Enquiry in the UK. In April 2011, an expert group was established in the UK to determine the appropriate scope and plan for the future of the Maternal Death Enquiry. Until the review group has completed its work, all maternity units and other stakeholders throughout Ireland, in common with UK countries will continue to collect data in support of the Enquiry. The MDE Ireland office will continue to coordinate the process.